In a candid interview hosted by Draymond Green with contributions from Baron Davis, former Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo reflects on his experience during the Lakers' championship run and his relationship with the team's two primary stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Rondo describes his self‑identification as a "star role player" who respected the hierarchy, contributed strategic input from the coaching staff during his rehab, and helped shape rotations despite limited minutes. He defends the Lakers' roster decisions, arguing that the team was not finished after the 2023‑24 season and could have built on its deep, adaptable core. Rondo praises LeBron’s unparalleled discipline, body‑care regimen, and basketball intellect, positioning James as a strong GOAT candidate. The conversation shifts to a broader view of basketball IQ, with Rondo noting that earlier eras had fewer distractions and more veteran‑led film sessions, whereas today’s players juggle social media and less veteran presence, leading to a perceived decline in on‑court IQ. He laments the NBA’s tendency to push veteran players and coaches out in favor of younger staff, emphasizing the mentorship value veterans provide. Throughout, Rondo underscores respect, communication, and a championship mindset as the keys to success.
Chapters
Speaking of the Lakers, obviously you played with AD again, who you had ballin' in New Orleans. And when you're with the Lakers, AD has his best time with the Lakers. No surprise there. But also playing with Bron, and you spoke a little bit about it earlier, but just talk to me about like going through the season as A, two alphas, B, two guys who I mean, who knows which one of y'all smarter? It's not even a who's smarter is number one. Like the, the level of y'all brain, like from a basketball standpoint, there is no 1A or 1— it's, that's just here. How was that experience with your resume and the respect that you have? 'Cause Bron know you got a basketball mind.
Yep.
And you're coming into the squad. What was that experience like? Along the way, going through the season, as you know, you growing to win a championship. You don't win a championship in June, you win a championship in January, you know, and growing through that, what was that experience like for y'all two as the savants that y'all are?
It was a great moment. You know, we played together before, but it was a time where, you know, I knew my role at the time, you know what I mean? So, you know, we're two alphas, but at the same time, I pride myself on being a star role player, you know what I mean? Like, I knew my role. I wasn't the big dog on any teams I ever played for. So for me, I fell in line. I knew what it was, you know what I mean? It wasn't no ego beating the chest. It was like, okay, I got, I'm gonna have an opinion, which he always respected it along with the coaching staff. So it was always just a hell of a line of respect that we have for each other. At the end of the day, he's playing, you know, 40 minutes, I'm playing 26 maybe, you know what I mean? So, you know, like I said, in the day it's all about winning. And I was always trying to do the best to figure out the 5 that should be on the floor or, you know, who should be in rotations at the end of the game, whatever. The team or the staff needed me to be at that particular time, that's the role I try to play. 'Cause in the bubble, I was out for 6 weeks, you know, I broke my thumb. Yeah.
Yeah.
So the dope thing was Frank Vogel, shout out to the homie again, he allowed me to get into all the coaches' rooms. So I'm understanding again from, I'm looking, I'm on the championship coaching staff basically. The 6 months I'm rehabbing in LA, then I come back, you know, when we play Houston and how we were able to adjust from not playing the big, the 7-footers, JaVale and Dwight at all in Houston series. And then we playing them against Jokic. So it was like, Being able to be in that locker room, being able to be in those meetings while I was gone, I was still able to stay in tune and talk with the team and understand. And they knew when I came back that it was up from there. 'Cause like I said, it was always the greater good of the team that we were always striving to be.
Speaking of JaVale and Dwight, they've been very outspoken about that team being broken up too soon. What was your take on that? Do you think the Lakers ultimately moved on too soon and where y'all could have done more? Or do you think that's just what it was? That team was gonna win a championship and it kind of capped there.
Nah, I definitely don't think it capped there.
Okay.
I'm good. You know, I mean, you win a championship, you feel like you have the blueprint and you gotta run it back to see if anybody has figured it out before you did, you know, crack the code. So I feel like we were a really deep team. Like I say, we're able to adjust. We've been through 7-game series, you know, we've been battle tested. So, You know, I think we already hit the button next year and figure out how to win it again. Like I said, everybody's feeling good. Bron's still playing now. You know what I mean? Ad was coming off one of his best seasons. Like I said, that confidence going back into the bubble, you have the same type of guys going to war with you. You know, it's just a psychological thing that you understand versus a couple guys ain't here. And a lot of teams, you know, that's what comes in front office or they come into play. It's like you feel like you can plug and play with certain guys, but that year nobody was breaking the bank. You know what I mean? Like, yeah. I don't know what it was, but you know, it is no here or there. They got me another 2 years. So hey, I wasn't even gonna play after that.
You mentioned LeBron still playing. Just talk about, you know, you play with him twice, you know, in your career. Like what has impressed you the most about him and especially with what he's doing now?
Man, I told you I never seen nobody take care of their body like him., rest and diet. I mean, the little cliché things, like all the things he does. I mean, the way he lifts, the way he goes at the weight room, uh, he attacks the weight room, you know, the way he attacks his on-court, off-the-court workouts. Like, he's professional. And again, if you put that type of money on your body, uh, and you, you know, and when no one's looking or no one's watching, you're still doing the right thing, you know, you're able to stay and have a longevity, a career like he's having. Not dropping 4 triple doubles in a row, things like that. I mean, obviously He's arguably the greatest player of all time. So for me, I just seen it every day on his regimen. You know what I mean? He was very disciplined and he goes over and beyond what, you know, the average or even some of the great NBA players have done that I've seen.
Not only that, the skill, you know what I mean? The knowledge, you know, and the know-how, you know what I mean? Just makes him super upper echelon. You know what I mean? It's that discipline. That take you to a whole nother level.
'Cause these young guys coming in more athletic, more explosive, and he's still able to manipulate the game, get to his spots. And he's just, I feel like he's outsmarting everybody. Obviously him and Steph doing the same thing. You know what I mean? Draymond's doing the same thing. So the game comes easier.
When you look at the game of where it is now, and like, you know the trend of where it's going as opposed to where it was when you first came in, say your first 5 to 7 years in the league, the overall IQ of basketball, do you see the IQ back then being higher or the IQ where it is today with guys today being higher?
That's a great question. You, you know, you, you're still in it. Uh, you know, I've been out 3 years, but you know, it hasn't been too long. But at the same time, I feel like maybe guys back then, uh, yeah, focused more, I guess. You know, there's a lot more distractions now. Off the court, you know, social media. Like, you know, back then it wasn't— we didn't have social media, so we kind of pretty much more locked in in the sense of even, like I said, certain teams. For me, like, after we lost— or not if we lost, but when we were with the Celtics, after every game we'd be in the training room, would be, you know, Draymond Green, the Big Three, myself, and a couple other guys always talking game plan strategy, you know, how we lost, why we lost, why we won, why we won. I mean, it's like vice versa. So that was just kind of the thing, like And it carried over like a lot of different teams I played for, but that was the one that stood out the most. Like we were always intact and we were always communicating and figuring out right away how we could have made adjustments throughout the game.
Yeah. Do you think that is all a byproduct of how many adults was in the room then and how many young guys? Like there's no vets now.
There you go. That's what it is. And it was an important point in my career. I think maybe you're like maybe 12 or 10, 11 for me. And all my homies was gone. It was like, damn, the league don't want the vets no more. Like I said, they don't appreciate them teaching them how to be a man, how to do, you know, how to conduct business on and off the court, not just to be yes man. So for me, that was a big wake-up call for me. Like, they ain't playing with y'all, y'all old fellas, 'cause they trying to get you out of here so they can have people. To me, I thought they could control, or people that can manipulate more to just say yes, everything they tell them what to do, versus how to be a pro, what to do, the right things, and when to, insert this or when to ask questions. So it was just, you know, my difference of opinion and thinking that it wasn't, you know, the idea. They should have kept me in the locker room.
Man, I felt like they pushed the vets out for younger coaches that was the same age.
Bingo.
Thinking that they can do the same thing. But it's just a difference and a level of respect when somebody get out there and can really get down. People seen you play in the finals. People see you play in the playoffs, you got legacy. And so when you replace that with coaching, you know what I mean? You don't get the sauce, you don't get the ism, and you don't get the growth.
You know what I mean? Let me add one more thing, B, not to cut you off, but that's what, to me, like I speak for, it's what Sam Cassell came in for. You know what I mean? Like he was playing, T-Lou came in, like those guys were the bridge connectors, the guy that would ever teach me, okay, this is cool, this ain't cool. Just kind of what I told you about KG did for me. So like those point guards, the Stephon Marburys, Like they brought those vets in for me to show me the ropes. And I took, like I said, a lot of from everybody. And they was in my ear, you know what I mean? They was giving me the game. So let me get it, all of them. I vibe with all my teammates. You know, I said Eddie House, Posi. I mean, I just, I got all the game and I just try to soak it up.
